AT A GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CAPITOL, IN THE CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG, ON MONDAY THE FIFTH DAY OF OCTOBER, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT

1778·Williamsburg

by [Virginia Laws]: [American Revolution]

Williamsburg: Alexander Purdie, 1778. 46pp. Folio. Antique-style three quarter calf and marbled boards, gilt, leather label. Minor foxing, text trimmed a bit close. Very good. A rare and important Revolutionary War-era collection of Virginia session laws. One act relating to the Revolutionary War encourages soldiers in the Continental Army to continue in service by providing higher pay and discounts on common luxuries like wine, coffee, chocolate, and sugar. Later in the session, the assembly partially recanted this act, declaring that it "cannot be carried fully into execution without greatly distressing the publick treasury." As a result, the provisions of the act were executed at the discretion of the governor and council. Another act calls on the governor and council to supply the American army and navy with grain and flour, and yet another act lays out guidelines for terms of service and pay for recruitment of more Virginia soldiers for the Continental Army. Other measures include an act preventing the further importation of slaves, an act extending the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina, an act suspending payment to clergy of the Church of England, and "An act for Establishing the county of Ilinois" on the western side of the Mississippi river. "The General Assembly passed two acts at this session, both of which had an immediate effect throughout the colony. It prohibited the further importation of slaves into Virginia; and (because of a severe grain shortage) it prohibited the distilling of spirits from corn, wheat, rye, and other grains for a period of eight months" - Berg. Rare, with only five copies recorded in Berg. Printing would soon end in Williamsburg, as the government fled westward to escape the British in 1779. BERG 265. EVANS 16154. SWEM 7113.
(Inventory #: WRCAM50226)

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